Some Of The Things That Make Bhutan Unique
Myths & Age-old Practices
Apart from its pristine natural environment, Bhutan is also imbued with a uniquely spiritual landscape. To the Bhutanese, their land is alive with spirituality. Mountain tops, lakes, passes and river junctions are all home to spirits, some that need to be pacified and placated.
Go on a pilgrimage in and around the country and you will find hand and body prints left in boulders by high lamas, and rocks lined with the marks of flying tigers or the staffs of saints. Caves form the lairs of snake demons and lakes hide sacred texts left behind by enlightened treasure-finders.
Bhutan is also covered in man-made marks of religious devotion. Prayer flags flutter in all corners of the kingdom. It’s this harmonious blending of religion, spirituality, legends and landscape that makes Bhutan such a remarkably happy place.
The Bhutanese know the difference between spiritual and material happiness
As globalization came in to Bhutan only a few decades ago, the Bhutanese know how to balance material possessions and spirituality. Happiness cannot be derived by buying the latest gadget or car, such is the Bhutanese mentality.
70% of the country is under forest cover
The environment is an important thing to the people of this small landlocked country. The forest, animals, and environment are strictly protected and it was announced not long ago that 70% of the country would be under forest cover for all times to come. Naturally, being one and connected with the planet and environment makes people feel happy, don’t you think.
Being mindful is engrained in us
In Buddhism, what you sow is what you reap in that people who live good lives are closer to enlightenment and are reincarnated as superior beings when they’re reborn. This prompts the Bhutanese to live good lives, do good deeds to one another, and be good people genuinely –mindful of one’s actions.
Gross National Happiness is our governing philosophy
In Bhutan, the development paradigm is not measured in GDP but in Gross National Happiness (GNH). This is an assurance to the people of Bhutan that the government is doing all it can to ensure that they are happy. GNH suggests that happiness is the ultimate objective of development. And because it recognizes that there are many dimensions to development other than those associated with GDP, development needs to be understood as a process that seeks to maximize happiness rather than just economic growth.
Bhutan is simply beautiful
While most people go to countries like Bhutan – nestled in the Himalayas with over 70% of untouched wilderness – for vacations, imagine how it must be for those living there permanently. Scenic, peaceful, clean air, pure water, it is everything that a crowded city is not. So, why wouldn’t people in such a setting be content and happy, right?
We have no pollution
One of the side effects of being so environmentally conscious is that the Bhutanese live in less pollution than pretty much everyone else. This makes the air, water, and ground much cleaner.